Abdur Rahman Chughtai
02/10/2024
Abdur Rahman Chughtai
Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1894–1975) is celebrated as Pakistan’s first significant modern Muslim artist, known for blending Mughal art, miniature painting, Art Nouveau, and Islamic traditions into a unique style. Born in Lahore, Chughtai came from a family of artisans and trained in naqqashi under his uncle before attending the Mayo School of Arts. His first painting appeared in the Modern Review in 1916, and he gained prominence after his 1920 exhibition at the Punjab Fine Art Society. Over his six-decade career, Chughtai produced over 2000 watercolor paintings, hundreds of etchings, and thousands of sketches. His work, deeply influenced by cultural heritage, helped shape Lahore's modern art scene. His illustrated masterpiece, Muraqqai-i-Chughtai, based on Mirza Ghalib's poetry, remains a significant achievement in book art. Chughtai’s works are held by major institutions like the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and UN Headquarters, with admirers including Pablo Picasso and Queen Elizabeth II. At Inked, we are proud to have provided archiving and fine art printing services for Chughtai’s timeless works, preserving his legacy for future generations courtesy of the Chughtai Museum Trust in Lahore.
